DNA Probe Detection of Oral Spirochetes

Treponema denticola is an oral spirochete associated with periodontal disease. T. denticola belongsfamily of oral spirochetes which, although found in low numbers in healthy tissue, increases in numbOral treponemes have the ability to invade gingival and connective tissues by mechanisms which are nunderstood. Since routine culture of these organisms is difficult, the most commonly used method ofpresence of oral spirochetes is dark field microscopy of wet mounts, a method not readily adaptablepractice. It is our aim to develop DNA probes directed to T. denticola, the newly identified PathogeSprochete (PROS), and other oral spirochetes and to incorporate these probes into a semi-automated aIn Phase I of this project, DNA probes will be developed and tested. In Phase II, the assay incorporbe characterized and tested in actual patient populations to determine which probe is most informatipatient care. This assay will ultimately provide a simple chair-side means of detecting the presenceallowing for patient risk assessment and treatment efficacy.